Horseshoe



Feb. 4, 1969 J. KULAK 3,425,493

HORSESHO'E Filed Feb; 8. 1967 INVENTOR. JOSEPH KULAK ATTORNE Y5 UnitedStates Patent Oflice 3,425,493 Patented Feb. 4, 1969 8 Claims ABSTRACTOF THE DISCLOSURE The horseshoe of this invention includes an axiallyspaced series of S-shaped recesses formed on a bottom face of the armsof the shoe and defining an interrupted series of built-up treadportions, and a plurality of lateral air passages are formedtherethrough in transverse relation to the longitudinal axis of theshoe.

This invention generally relates to horseshoes and specifically concernsracing plates.

A primary object of this invention is to provide an improved horseshoewhich provides significantly improved traction and ease of runningirrespective of the type of racing surface.

Another object of this invention is to provide a horseshoe of the abovedescribed type which is particularly suited for synthetic all weatherracing surfaces and which effectively avoids the so-called suctionproblem which has been encountered on some types of artificial racingsurfaces.

A further object of this invention is to provide a horseshoe of theabove described type having an improved construction which facilitatesquick and easy fitting and which effects a self cleaning action duringuse.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improvedhorseshoe nail.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out more indetail hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction,combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will beexemplified in the construction hereafter set forth and the scope of theapplication which will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a plan View showing a tread of a horseshoe constructed inaccordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the horseshoe of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view thereof, partly broken away and partlyin section;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view, partly broken away, taken generallyalong line 44 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view showing a preferred embodiment of ahorseshoe nail according to this invention; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the top of the horseshoe nail of FIG. 5.

Referring now to the drawing in detail wherein a preferred embodiment ofthis invention is shown, a horseshoe 10 is illustrated having agenerally U-shaped body which is preferably forged of aluminum alloy,although it can be cast or forged of any suitable lightweight materialexhibiting the requisite durability, strength and stiffness. A calk 12is shown firmly secured in accordance with well known techniques in atoe portion 14 of the shoe 10 to project downwardly from a bottom facethereof forming a tread 15, the calk 12 being formed of material havingnotable wear resisting qualities such as hard steel. A pair of arcuatearms 16 and 18 are integrally formed in continuation with the toeportion 14 which is of suitable thickness for withstanding heavy wear.

For providing optimum footing irrespective of the type of racingsurface, each arm 16, 18 is shown having gen-- erally S-shaped recessesdefined in part by a plurality of longitudinally extending channels 20axially spaced apart in a central portion of the tread 15, with each ofthe individual channels 20 defining inner and outer ridges 22, 24 onopposite side edges of the tread 15 extending parallel to thelongitudinal axis of the shoe 10. The inner and outer ridges 22, 24 areprovided with notches 26, 28 respectively formed at oppositelongitudinal ends of their corresponding channel 20 in alternatingrelation along the longitudinal axis of the shoe 10. The notches 26, 28thus cooperate with the channels 20 in defining the S-shaped recessesand a series of built-up tread portions 30 which are interrupted therebyon opposite sides of the tread 15 along the longitudinal axis of theshoe 10. In addition, heel portions or free ends of the arms 16, 18 arepreferably channeled for easier cutting if need be in fitting the shoeto the horse.

To avoid a suction problem which has been encountered on some types ofsynthetic all weather racing surfaces as well as to provide greatertraction on all types of racing surfaces, a plurality of lateral airpassages 32 are shown extended through the built-up tread portions 30 intransverse relation to the longitudinal axis of the shoe 10. Inaddition, the toe portion 14 is shown having a frontal opening 34 whichextends therethrough along a medial plane XX of the shoe 10 and which isof enlarged size relative to the air passages 32 in the arms 16, 18.

The above described horseshoe structure effects an excellent grip on anytype of racing surface such that the escape of any pocket of trapped airis permitted as the weight of the horse compresses the area underfoot toreduce slippage and significantly improve traction. These improvedresults occur precisely when the effort is made by the horse to drivehis weight forwardly whereby an increased grab is effected in alldirections for reducing any tendency toward cupping out, or breaking outfrom under, and accordingly, there is less slipping and sliding onturns. In addition, any vacuum created, e.=g., when the foot engages anartificial racing surface, would be relieved, thereby to minimize anylift resistance and to effectively improve the ease of running.Moreover, the reduction in thickness provided by the frontal opening 34along the medial plane XX of the shoe 10 permits it to be bent cold tofacilitate fitting when minor changes in size are required.

By virtue of the above described S-shaped recesses formed in the tread15 of the shoe 10, each arm 16, 18 is also of suflicient thicknesscontinuously throughout its length to provide the necessary strength anddurability while yet ensuring a lightweight racing plate. If desired,the tread 15 can be provided with a smoothly finished coating asindicated at 36 of durable material such as chrome, Teflon or nylon toeffect a self cleaning racing tread.

In accordance with another aspect of this invention, an improvedhorseshoe nail 38 is provided having a head portion 40 with a major axisY-Y which, in contrast to the usual horseshoe nail, is oriented inperpendicular relation to a major axial plane ZZ of the nail extendingalong a shank portion 42 of the horseshoe nail 38 whereby nail holes 44may be formed in the aforementioned builtup tread portions 30 and yet bespaced a sufiicient distance from the lateral air passages 32 formedtherein. Accordingly, each nail hole 44 can be formed in the tread 15with an enlarged countersunk opening 46 of a generally rectangular shapehaving its longer dimension extending laterally of the longitudinal axisof the shoe 10 as illustrated for protectively receiving the headportion 40 of the nail 38 in tight wedging contact to minimize any playtending to loosen the shoe on the foot of a horse. It is to be notedthat the head portion 40' of the nail 38 is integrally formed with theshank portion 42 in eccentric relation thereto whereby the nail 38 maybe directed upwardly through the countersunk nail holes 44 and the hooffrom a point adjacent its outer wall, and then driven home upwardly andgradually outwardly through the wall until the piercing end of the shankportion 42 emerges through the hoof in position to be turned down in aclinch.

The horseshoe of this invention is of durable construction and has theadded advantage of being quick and easy to fit. While the shoe isparticularly suited for artificial racing surfaces, improved traction isensured by the disclosed construction irrespective of the racingsurface.

I claim:

1. In a horseshoe having a generally U-shaped body and a substantiallyarcuate longitudinal axis extending along the same, the improvementwherein the body of the horseshoe is provided with lateral air passagemeans in generally transverse relation to the longitudinal axis of thehorseshoe and extending therethrough in an intermediate plane of thehorseshoe.

2. The horseshoe of claim '1 wherein the body includes a pair of opposedarms and a toe portion integrally joining the same, and wherein saidlateral air passage means includes a frontal opening extending throughthe toe portion along a medial plane of the horseshoe.

3. A horseshoe comprising a generally U-shaped body having a toe portionand a pair of opposed arms integrally formed in continuation therewith,said body having a bottom face forming a tread, and said arms eachhaving a plurality of generally S-shaped recesses formed in axiallyspaced relation in said tread defining a series of tread portions ofincreased thickness which are interrupted at axially spaced intervals inalternating relation along opposite side edges of said tread.

4. The horseshoe of claim 3 wherein said S-shaped recesses in said armsare defined by a plurality of longitudinally extending channelscentrally formed in spaced relation in said tread with each of saidchannels defining inner and outer ridges extending axially of thehorseshoe on opposite side edges of said tread, and said inner and outerridges having longitudinally spaced notches formed therein at oppositelongitudinal ends of their corresponding channels in alternatingrelation along the longitudinal axis of the horseshoe.

5. The horseshoe of claim 3 wherein said body is provided with lateralair passage means generally extending therethrough in an intermediateplane of the horseshoe in transverse relation to its longitudinal axis.

6. The horseshoe of claim 3 wherein a smoothly finished coating ofdurable material is bonded to said bottom face of the horseshoe toprovide a self cleaning racing tread.

7. The horseshoe of claim 3 wherein each of said tread portions betweenadjoining recesses 'has a nail hole formed in perpendicular relation tosaid bottom face, each said nail hole having a generally rectangularcountersunk head portion formed in said bottom face with the longerdimension of said head portion extending laterally of the longitudinalaxis of the horseshoe, and wherein each of said trwd portions betweenadjoining recesses has a lateral air passage generally extendingtherethrough normal to said nail hole in an intermediate plane of thehorseshoe in transverse relation to its longitudinal axis.

8. The horseshoe of claim 7 wherein said toe portion is of increasedthickness relative to said arms and includes a frontal opening extendingin transverse relation to the longitudinal axis of the horseshoe andalong a medial plane thereof, said frontal opening being of enlargedsize relative to said air passages formed in said tread portions of saidarms.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 159,026 1/1875 French 168-5609,132 8/1898 Wisenfeld 168ll 707,417 8/1902 Howell 1681l 732,9987/1903 Brand 1685 876,265 1/1908 Campbell 1684 2,466,074 4/ 1949 Bell1684 X ALDRICH F. MEDBERY, Primary Examiner.

